Bullpen shines in Dogs loss

It just wasn’t the SwampDogs’ night on Saturday, as they dropped the game to the Morehead City Marlins 8-1. The game, however, was a lot closer than that score would seem.

After SwampDogs starter Cam Knott (Mercyhurst) allowed six runs to come in in the first inning while the Marlins sent 11 to the plate, and another two to score in the second, he was removed from the game in favor of Ryan Stinar (Albany).

Stinar went the next five innings, allowing only one base hit while striking out three, and keeping the score right where it was. All three pitches for Stinar were on point as he carved through the Marlins lineup.

After Stinar, Teddy Turner (Trinity) came on for the SwampDogs and allowed just one hit in the final two innings of the game.

On the offensive side, the SwampDogs didn’t really have much going for them. Michael Bozarth (Saint Louis) led off the bottom of the first with a single off of Kurt Lipscomb (Faulkner), but was thrown out trying to steal second base. Jason Blum (Southeast Missouri State) would single right after him and successfully steal second, but would be stranded there. The hit for Blum extended what is now a 15-game reached-base streak.

In the second inning Norm Donkin (Delaware) led off with a double, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple. Sam Hall (Dixie State) followed that up with a walk, and two batters later, Jacob Whiting (Montevallo) lined a Lipscomb offering into centerfield for a single which was misplayed by Andrew Amaro (Maryland) and Hall was able to come in and score all the way from first base, and Whiting reached second.

Lipscomb would settle down from there and work his final three innings without incident. He went five innings, allowing six hits and one unearned run, walking one and striking out four.

He would be replaced by Davis Kirkpatrick (East Carolina) who went two scoreless innings, striking out four and walking two, and then Jordan Knutson (Missouri State) would work a perfect inning in the eighth.

Matt Tindall (Trinity) would pitch the ninth for the Marlins, and allowed a leadoff base hit to Alex Harris (Dayton) and a walk to Donkin, but would then settle down to retire the next three SwampDogs in order.

Lipscomb would earn the win and improves to 2-0 on the season, Knott would get the loss for the SwampDogs, falling to 3-2.

After an off day on Sunday, the SwampDogs embark Monday on their second trip up to Virginia of the year, to take on the Martinsville Mustangs on Monday, followed by the Petersburg Generals on a special Tuesday matinee starting at 12:05 pm. They return home Wednesday to host the Wilmington Sharks at 7:05 pm on Tom Hanks Night at The Swamp. For tickets and more information, call the SwampDogs offices at 910-426-5900.

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 18th season in 2014, the CPL features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. The CPL has had over 1,200 alumni drafted and 69 of those – including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander – make their Major League debut; while another notable alum - Russell Wilson - won Super Bowl XLVIII. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at